The Sheriff’s Office serves all the citizens of Butte County by providing a mix of public safety and public service functions. The Sheriff’s Office provides around-the-clock law enforcement service to every region of the county. In addition to 24 hour policing, we offer Butte County citizens a full range of services including, coroner services, civil services, court security and corrections.

Press Releases that were issued during the Camp Fire incident are here

May 19, 2018
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO INCIDENT INVOLVING BARRICADED SUBJECT IN MAGALIA
Magalia, Ca-- On 5/18/18, at approximately 6:40 PM, Deputies from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) responded to an address on Mason Court in Magalia, CA for a report of a domestic violence incident. The female victim fled the residence to call 9-1-1; however, the male suspect, later identified as 36 year old Logan Awalt, remained inside.
Upon arrival, Deputies were confronted by Awalt, who was extremely agitated and refused to surrender himself to deputies. Deputies had information that Awalt had access to at least one firearm inside the home, and that Awalt was possibly under the influence of LSD or some other drug. Deputies took cover, surrounded the home from a safe distance, and continued to try to deescalate the situation by attempting to talk to Awalt. Awalt exited the home numerous times, but only went as far as the front and back porches. While outside on the porches, Awalt continued to threatened Deputies and assert that someone would die if they attempted to take him into custody. At various times, Awalt threw chunks of firewood and a chair at Deputies, and threatened to burn the house down. Awalt told Deputies that if they wanted him then they’d have to shoot him. Officers from the Paradise Police Department and CHP arrived to assist.
After close to two hours of trying to negotiate Awalt’s surrender with no success, coupled with his numerous threats, the decision to deploy a BCSO Police Service Dog (K9) was made once Awalt returned to the front porch. It initially appeared that the K-9 was going to be successful in apprehending Awalt; however, Awalt repeatedly punched the K-9 and used the front door to bash the dog. Fortunately, the K9 did not receive any serious injury as a result. The K-9 released Awalt, and Awalt retreated back into the home and locked the door. Deputies forced entry, at which point they utilized a Taser as well as less lethal bean bag rounds in an effort to take him into custody. Even after deploying the K-9, a Taser, and bean bag rounds, Awalt was still able to resist arrest and flee out the back of the home. Awalt jumped a fence, and entered a nearby neighbor’s home on Carnegie Road where he barricaded himself again. The owner of the Carnegie Road home was able to escape his home safely. Deputies soon learned that the Carnegie Road home had multiple unsecured firearms and ammunition available to Awalt. It was at this time that BCSO SWAT, BCSO Crisis Negotiation Team and Butte Interagency Bomb Squad were requested for assistance.
After establishing a secure perimeter, the Crisis Negotiation Team made multiple attempts to negotiate with Awalt and secure his surrender. After approximately two hours of no contact, a decision was made to utilize the bomb squad robot equipped with a camera to enter the home. BCSO personnel were able to see Awalt inside of the home. Awalt was still very agitated and refused to surrender. At one point, SWAT personnel saw an opportunity to enter the home. With a plan to take him into custody, SWAT made entry into the home and located Awalt hiding in a bathroom. After several minutes of struggling and additional Taser deployments, Awalt was taken into custody and removed from the home.
BCSO SWAT Medics immediately began medical treatment on Awalt pending the arrival of CAL Fire and Butte EMS personnel, who were staged nearby. Awalt was transported to a nearby hospital for a medical clearance and treatment, he will be booked into the Butte County Jail upon his release. BCSO will be seeking charges of Felony Domestic Violence, Burglary, Criminal Threats, Vandalism, and Felony Resisting Arrest. His bail will be approximately $218,000.
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May 17, 2018
TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO RECOVERY OF STOLEN PROPERTY
Magalia, Ca—On April 19, 2018 at approximately 10:30 PM, a Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Sergeant conducted a traffic stop on Wycliff Road in Magalia. During the course of the investigation he located methamphetamine as well as items associated to the illegal sales of methamphetamine. As a result; the driver, identified as Jaren Percell, age 26, from Magalia, was arrested for illegal sales of narcotics.
The investigation into this incident continued, and BCSO detectives authored search warrants for Percell’s residence and storage unit. Additional items associated to drug use were located in Percell’s residence.
During the search of Percell’s storage unit, numerous items of stolen property were located and later identified as belonging to a local heating and air conditioning company. BCSO detectives and deputies returned to Percell’s residence on April 24, 2018, pursuant to a search warrant. Numerous items of stolen property were located belonging to same air conditioning company, in addition to a local logging company and an electrical company out of Sacramento. All stolen property was returned to victims. The stolen property had an estimated value of $26,662.04.
Percell was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a short barreled shotgun, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, possession of heroin, and 3 counts of possession of stolen property. Percell was booked into Butte County Jail with a bail amount set at $80,000.
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May 17, 2018
SUSPECT LINKED TO BUTTE COUNTY KIDNAPPING ARRESTED AND CONVICTED
Oroville, Ca--On March 4, 2016 Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received information that an adult female had been kidnapped related to illegal marijuana activity in Butte County.
BCSO Deputies gathered information and determined that the victim and her assailants were at McDonalds in Gridley. BCSO immediately advised Gridley Police Department (GPD) of the circumstances. GPD Officers responded to the Gridley McDonalds and detained Demetrius Cortez Elliott until BCSO deputies arrived to place him under arrest for kidnapping and using a firearm during the kidnapping. Elliott received an enhanced sentence due to prior violent felony convictions. Elliott is currently serving a 29 year sentence in State Prison.
The investigation into this incident continued, and BCSO Detectives determined that Antonio Martez Woodard was the ring leader in a conspiracy related to the kidnapping and potential marijuana robbery. Woodard fled from California to a residence in North Carolina where he absconded from authorities.
BCSO Detectives obtained a Felony Arrest Warrant for Woodard, which led to Woodard being arrested once in North Carolina and a second time in Oregon. Both times, Woodard posted bail and was released.
Woodard was recently arrested in North Carolina on kidnapping charges, and brought back to Butte County. Woodard was convicted in a jury trial and on May 9, 2018, was sentenced to 13 years 4 months in state prison for kidnapping, first degree residential burglary and a firearms enhancement due to the fact that a firearm was used during the kidnapping and burglary. Woodard received the maximum sentence allowed by law.
BCSO would like to thank GPD and the many citizens who assisted the investigation by providing information.
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Oroville, Ca-- On May 9, 2018 at approximately 12:00 PM, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Deputy Randall Cooper conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 4800 Block of Feather River Boulevard in Oroville. There were two occupants in the vehicle. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as 47 year old Michael Bennett, of Oroville. Through his investigation, Deputy Cooper was able to conduct a search of the vehicle which resulted in the seizure of almost ½ pound of methamphetamine and approximately $3400 in cash. The items were determined to belong to Bennett.
Due to the large amount of methamphetamine, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF) was contacted to continue with the investigation. BINTF Detectives were able to identify two storage lockers in Oroville that belonged to Bennett and wrote search warrants for the two units. A search of the storage lockers yielded addition methamphetamine, marijuana, a small amount of heroin and remnants of a butane honey oil lab.
Bennett was booked into the Butte County Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sales and possession of drug paraphernalia. Additional charges of manufacturing concentrated cannabis, possession for sale of marijuana and possession of heroin were also added to his charges. Bennett was booked into the Butte County Jail with bail set at $57,000.00.
The driver of the vehicle was released with no charges.
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Oroville, Ca-- On May 8th, 2018 members of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Enforcement Unit along with Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF) Agents, served a search warrant in the 2800 block of Cherokee Road, in Oroville.

Upon service of the search warrant, members of law enforcement witnessed an Asian male adult flee out the back of the residence and into the nearby brush in an effort to avoid law enforcement contact. Members of law enforcement were able to locate the subject, identified as Yu Zheng, age 39 of Pennsylvania. Zheng was found hiding in a tree line about 100 yards from the residence and was taken into custody without incident.

A search of the property revealed an elaborate illegal commercial indoor marijuana grow, outdoor marijuana plants, and marijuana plants growing in a large greenhouse. A total of 2,165 marijuana plants were eradicated from the illegal commercial growing sites.

Zheng was arrested at the scene for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and felony maintaining a residence for drug sales. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440